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Michelle Pollace

Whether performing her own compositions or her arrangements of standards, Bay Area native Michelle Pollace [poh-LAH-chi] honors the roots of jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban music while adding a new voice. Her performance highlights creative arrangements of jazz melodies set to alluring Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, as well as original compositions from Michelle’s critically acclaimed CD “New Beginning.” Michelle’s love of melody and affinity for well-structured compositions creates a classic sound, of which critic Mark Tucker of Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange writes, “I’m highly reminded of Ahmad Jamal’s ... and others’ old canons of work.” This melodic sensibility makes her music accessible to a wide audience.

A San Francisco Bay Area native, Michelle began writing songs at age 11. She took formal piano lessons sporadically but preferred playing by ear, also picking up bass and guitar in her teens. Michelle has embraced many musical styles over her career; her performance and recording credits include orchestra member in Lou Harrison’s internationally renowned Gamelan Si Betty (Indonesian orchestra), keyboardist for Chepito Areas (Santana’s original percussionist/arranger), chorus member in a Gilbert & Sullivan theater company, bassist for a grunge band, leader of a piano- based singer/songwriter project, and more. Besides studying classical and jazz piano (through SJSU and privately with Martan Mann), she has studied Latin piano/arranging (privately with Rebeca Mauleon) and Latin percussion (with Dan Sabanovich). Michelle is also co-author of a music-education book/CD called Musicreation.

Before launching her piano-based band, Michelle co-led Zarate Pollace Project with guitarist Abel Zarate (who also wrote hit songs for Malo and Willie Bobo). ZPP enlisted the musical contributions of many Bay Area luminaries, including John Santos, Paul VanWageningen, Dave Belove, Michael Spiro, Curtis Ohlson, and others to realize the blend of jazz, fusion, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban styles comprising ZPP's music. ZPP released the CD "Soul Redemption" (2005), which garnered worldwide radio airplay and favorable reviews.

Michelle released her latest CD, "New Beginning," March 2013. The CD features some of the San Francisco Bay Area's top-call musicians — producer Rebeca Mauleon; David Belove on bass; Phil Hawkins on drums; Carlos Caro and Michaelle Goerlitz on percussion; and saxophonist Kristen Strom.

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Album Review

Michelle Pollace: New Beginning

Read "New Beginning" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Pianist and composer Michelle Pollace from the San Francisco Bay Area has been a long-time exponent of the Latin jazz genre going back to her days as co-leader of the Zarate Pollace Project where, along with Bay Area songwriter and guitarist Abel Zarate, the group performed a blend of fusion, jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban styles of music. Pollace continues her exploration of Latin jazz leading her own small combo on their debut outing New Beginning, featuring original compositions and arrangements ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Michelle Pollace

Read "Take Five With Michelle Pollace" reviewed by Michelle Pollace


Meet Michelle Pollace:Michelle Pollace is a composer and performing musician of Latin jazz, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Michelle's arrangements of jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban standards are original, and her own compositions honor the roots of the music while adding a new voice. Her band's performances at the 2010 and 2011 San Jose Jazz Festivals were well received. She is just now releasing her latest CD, New Beginning, which highlights Michelle's piano work and also features ...

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“Pollace has a strong commanding presence on New Beginning. Like a baker, she has a way of gently whipping rhythms until they are cohesive and taut. Pollace is a daring player whose music is dramatic and alive.” —Marc Myers, JazzWax

“There’s a defined sense of structure in Pollace’s work ... that makes her music both accessible and exciting. Pollace’s music overflows with a strong artistic command, an authentic connection to the source material, and an infectious sense of cool. From every angle, there’s a feeling of support and commitment to a product that shines with quality and integrity.” —Chip Boaz, Latin Jazz Corner, Album of the Week

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

New Beginning

Self Produced
2013

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Bright Eyes

From: New Beginning
By Michelle Pollace

Videos

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